My daughter who happens to have Down Syndrome started reading about six weeks after we started her reading program (when she was 12 mo).  We used physical flashcards with her (a la Glenn Doman).  Think I was excited?      

Take another break from the cards.  Or cut the sets down to just one word per set.   If he is very active, you could make a game out of the cards by laying out the cards from a set in a line down the hallway and have him crawl across them.  As he does so you say each word.  Or try playing peek-a-boo behind a chair and hold a card in front of your face every other time you "peek" out.   Put one card on the wall where he gets his diaper changed.  Mention the word casually every time he's there.  Get creative.  Either make it fun or don't do it at all.

He may be in the stage where his mind is completely focussed on physical mastery of some skill (i.e., walking).  Some kids lose interest in word cards during this phase.  But they grow out of their disinterest - as long as you haven't pushed to learn word cards.

Wow, Margaret!  What an encouraging story.  Chloe is doing great things thanks to all your hard work!  Good job!

My daughter began her reading program at 3mo.  At 3 years she was diagnosed with severe far-sightedness.  She was even seeing double and one of her eyes started turning in.  How in the world she managed to learn to read is beyond me.  I don't believe the optometrist even believed me that she could read.  So learning to read certainly didn't bring on near-sightedness for her!

I live about 30 miles from Gainesville in Fauquier County!

Our daughter used to be frightened of sudden noises.  We'd have to warn her about noises about to happen.  She'd cry if we suddenly called loudly for someone upstairs but forgotten to warn  her.  We never found out for sure why she was that way.  Thankfully, she has, for the most part, outgrown that. 

We have potty trained five boys.  It's funny how different kids are different.  All mine would not pee on the floor if they had no diaper on.  So I just let them run around with a long t-shirt on at home when I was training them.  But, obviously, yours is different.  One thing we would definitely do is have them help clean up.  Plus we would place them in the tub and pour some unpleasantly cool water on them to get them cleaned up.  Those two things together made it unpleasant for them if they peed anywhere other than the potty.  Being only 18 months, I'm not sure that your boy is ready for that. 

I would definitely recommend Potty Training in a Day book, too.